The Puggle is a relatively little dog that requires a big bunch of love and responsibility. They are practically legendary as they were one of the first designer dogs, but they are by no means easy to care for and maintain. On this page, you'll find many Puggle tips, hints, and advice to help you understand if you are ready to adopt one of these super-cute hybrid dogs.
A Puggle comes from two frenetic parent breeds that are active in their own ways. As such, you can be sure that your Puggle will need access to a lot of activity, be it the freedom to run around the house non-stop, and space outside the house to do the same — and not just on the daily walks. This is not so much a heavy-lifting hybrid dog but a constantly moving one that is extremely curious and keen to challenges. Puggles are able to get into trouble quickly if space, toys, or attention is lacking.
Because of the shortened snout, heavy exercise should be avoided, as should very hot or cold weather and especially any exertion in extreme weather. They can be more than a bit pushy around much larger dogs. Care should also be taken to not let them jump up and down on high furniture when they are puppies, and perhaps not even as adults. They should never be let off leash when being walked or not inside a fenced yard. They are certain to give chase to most anything such as small animals, other dogs, and even cars. Many Puggle breeders and owners claim that a harness (or halter) is better than a collar leash. It's said this helps to control them much better and that the constriction of a collar leash might cause further respiratory issues if they get excited.
The best exercise for a Puggle is walking, plain and simple. She will love it, and it will allow you two to do a great many things: bonding, behavior obedience, and exploration. Here are a few other exercises that your Puggle may appreciate:
Puggles are more prone to overeat than most dogs, mixed breed or otherwise. If you want to reduce the amount of exercise they need on a daily basis, a strict diet is the first step. Having lots of toys is another way to reduce and prevent weight concerns. If you live in an apartment or a place with no yard and difficult access to a dog park, you will do best to have lots of toys. Don't have them all out at once, be sure to rotate them, and don't be averse to getting new types of toys relatively frequently.
Your cute Puggle will be playful and loving, but she will also be high-maintenance whether awake or asleep. She'll shed, she'll drool, she'll snore, and she'll do more. If you are allergic to dogs, or Puggle shedding might be a problem, this Beagle Pug mix may not be for you.
Puggles tend to drool in their sleep, but then again yours may not. She might drool only when she is on one side or the other. She could start drooling more as she gets older, and this may be due to her brachycephalic snout. Then again, she might suddenly start drooling because she was overly curious and ate something like a noxious plant, bug, or toad, or she may have something stuck in her mouth. She may be having an allergic reaction to a flea medicine that contains organophosphates, which many vets say definitely causes excessive drooling. It's best to observe her drooling to know if it's suddenly excessive, discolored, or different (foamy, thick, etc.). If there is an unusual feature to the slobber, and if she is also exhibiting other signs of distress, it may be time for a quick visit to the vet.
Your Puggle may have a short, single-layer coat, but she will shed — a lot, or a little more than a lot, which is A LOT! You might brush daily, but she will constantly run around the entire house. As such, you'll also vacuum daily or else live with a constant trail of hair clouds whenever you or she moves about. There will also be at least two annual coat blow-outs during which your Puggle shedding excessively is normal.
As newborn puppies, Puggles are tiny dogs, but they have an early significant growth spurt. Once they get big real fast, they should have a slower yet on-going growth until they are about a year old. Even then they may grow a wee bit more. Their caloric intake should be understood by learning about the ingredients of your Puggle food. Once you know how many calories are in a cup of your dog's kibble, wet food, or raw portions, it should be easy to measure out. The below amounts are for an average-sized dog. Your Puggle might be bigger or smaller, so be sure to adjust the number of calories/cups to her weight.
The recommended protein content of the food, no matter its type, should be between 14 and 21%. As for the percentage of the fat content, it should be no more than 9%. You should have basic feeding times during the day so that your Puggle knows when feeding time will be around. In other words, 30-45 minutes around a given time such as 9 a.m., noon, etc. Don't be dead-on specific with the times because missing that time-specific slot could induce anxiety. Also, you should not leave the food out for more than about 20 minutes — enough time to eat without wolfing down the food, but not so long as to suggest free-feeding. Of course, if you have a very active Puggle, and she casually eats all the food in a somewhat short time, you may want to consider slightly increasing the amount of food per feeding.
You should be aware that Puggles love to eat, and free-feeding them can quickly result in a fat Puggle. There are many diets available, and if the current diet is done carefully but doesn't help your dog not be obese, you'll want to change. Doing so should not be done overnight but gradually over a week to 10 days. Replace up to 25% of your dog's old food with the new food, and after a few days, make it 50/50. If her stool looks fine and she doesn't react badly, make it 75% new food by about day 5 or 6. If after a week she still seems fine, make it 100% new food by no later than day 10 and continue to watch for any allergic or other reactions.
Whether raw, kibble, wet, or a mix of kibble and wet dog foods, it's best to get high-quality food. Although Puggles are very popular designer doggies, there is no specific dog food for them by name. The best food for Puggles is one that allows them to remain highly active, to keep their coats shiny, and to prevent obesity. Unlike many dog breeds and types, there is not a majority that agrees that the raw (or BARF, for Bones And Raw Food) diet is best for this hybrid. Many people say that the best dog food for Puggles are brands like Merrick, Taste of The Wild, Canidae, and Blue Buffalo.
Read the grooming requirements for Puggles including coat care and other maintenance.
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